Brief aan Séraphin Malfait 1787 - 1814

This is Jan Kobell the Younger’s undated letter to Séraphin Malfait. It is rendered in ink on paper, creating a visual field dominated by the interplay of light and shadow across the text. The script flows across the page, guided by an invisible structure that aligns text into dense blocks. These linear forms create a visual rhythm, an uneven but present cadence which invites us to consider the act of reading, and how we assign meaning through sequences of words. Here, Kobell's composition can be understood as a means to convey not only information, but also the emotional and intellectual framework of communication. This is a complex interplay that uses the physical properties of the letter itself to enhance its message. The formal presentation thus reflects broader philosophical concerns about the nature of language, and interpersonal exchange.